SHFs in Tanzania applauds their president on the battle against covid-19

Among the dreadful memories that will remain in the minds of many is the traumatic impact that COVID-19 has left across the globe. Global disasters are known to disrupt either the economy, the society, political structure or even multiple issues at a go. Geographically, unlike other previous chaotic global catastrophes, COVID-19 has shuttered nations and continents forcing people to clear cities and roads, with shops and public places remaining empty as people lock themselves away to safety.

Noting, the number of casualties, shuttered businesses, disrupted value chains and dismantled economies with which societies depend on, COVID-19 has brought a seemingly unforgettable memory. A memory of how the world almost stood still and how every man, woman and child could no longer mingle together due to fear of being a victim of the pandemic. The disease made people feel neither safe nor secure with each other.

According to the World Bank (WB), the global GDP was estimated to grow at a rate of 5.2 per cent for this year. Thus, marking the deepest global recession in decades. These estimations are with consideration to the countermeasures each country took to cushion its people and the economy from the devastating socio-economic effects of the outbreak. Thus making COVID-19 as the worst global crisis in human history.

As other countries rendered lockdowns to control the infection rate of the pandemic, in East Africa, Tanzania was the only country that did not go on lockdown as her neighbours did. Although much was put into question on why no lockdown was imposed in Tanzania. On the agenda, President John Magufuli made it clear that it was not a necessity to impose the same measures as other countries have done in fighting off the Coronavirus. The implemented measures should not force people to shut their businesses and lock themselves away. Implementing a lockdown could prove fatal to Tanzanians who earn their living daily. In which, he instead encouraged people to keep on working hard while taking maximum precaution against the disease.

To fight off the pandemic, Tanzania implemented a series of tight measures to control the virus ever since first COVID-19 case was confirmed on March 15, 2020. Some of these measures included; imposition of travel restrictions, banning of international flights and closure of the aviation sector, compulsory 14-day quarantine for incoming travellers, the opening of labs and testing centres at border posts, creation of quarantine centres for treating confirmed cases, closure of schools, the ban of entertainment programs and the imposition of Social distancing.

The government’s move may have salvaged people’s lives at the microeconomic level but for macroeconomic sectors like Tourism, which is Tanzania’s leading foreign exchange earner, things were not as smooth as they used to be. This follows the closure of hotels, conference centres and touristic attractions as tourists ceased entry following lockdowns and restriction of flights.

Other major sectors like Agriculture, which employs almost 70 per cent of Tanzanians faced a backlash at the microeconomic level as farmers struggled to sell their harvest let alone take care of their families. In rural areas, social distancing took effect as authorities directed individuals not to gather in high numbers at market places to avoid contracting the disease. Some other stricter mechanisms like the restriction of food trading in market places during night hours proved to make life harder for food crop vendors.

With the government insisting on social distancing, some members chose to purchase a large stock of goods only to lock themselves away from the public. This resulted in rising in prices of commodities and services as demand rose while goods depleted in supply. Socially many challenges culminated in rural areas in the last four months following the outbreak of the global pandemic. Such challenges are the main reasons why people became rather happy with the government denouncing COVID-19.

Rise cost of products and services 

During the Covid-19 period, the level of commodity prices for some products and services exploded. This was attributed by the cease in international trade as countries executed lockdowns to control the spread of the virus. Hence, affecting the flow of goods that were essential but not in the country’s capacity to manufacture. In the agribusiness, farmers had a hard time to amass funds to buy seeds and other farm implements at high prices. Resulting in a slow-down in commercial production or complete transition to subsistence production.

“If go to the shop to purchase farm implements and pesticides, I find that the insecticide I used to buy at TZS 2000 is now sold at TZS 6000. Such a situation puts you in a hard spot. When you refrain from buying the product, your crops risk destruction. But for farmers who could not afford such prices, the only option was to quit buying the implements,” said Matthew Darema, Farmer at Hanang District in Manyara.

Job losses

The prime Minister’s order to close down all schools across the country to protect them from the disease on March 17th, 2020, may have been merry in the curbing the pandemic. However, such a move resulted in some teachers losing their jobs or sent home without pay. Conditions turned worse for some people because they have to take care of their families. With the current situation making a null idea to employ oneself it, closure of schools made it difficult for teachers to sustain themselves that would kick in to sustain their families’ livelihood.

“My Son just graduated from the University and got employed as a teacher in a private school. When the schools were shut, he didn’t have any money and he was not paid any even though he had already worked there for some time. So, what I did, I sent him some money so that he could come home. There was no way he could have survived living in those circumstances. Despite all, we thank our president relieved us from the fear of the disease. From there, we were able to harvest our crops and lead our normal lives.” said, Maria Daisifa, a Fresh food hero from Singida.

Disruptions of Students’ academic prowess

For urban areas, families with access to technologies like laptops, modems and smart devices were able to adapt remote learning. However, this was a different case in rural areas. Lack of access to remote learning facilities and technology made studying obsolete. Hence, students became more of local citizens than scholars as they were prior to the outbreak. With neither time nor opportunity to recap what they studied in school.

Something which endangers their future but also raising questions to whether they would want to go back studying the moment schools reopen. Also raising an eyebrow to whether some parents would still opt for their children to go back to formal learning instead of helping with the family’s agriculture and livestock keeping.

Early pregnancy

As families struggled to survive by minimizing the use of resources to handle the tide of the pandemic in rural areas, some families became distraught over teenage pregnancy cases. Closure of schools in rural areas meant being idle unless a child does home chores. With no supervision, children used the absence of schooling as an opportunity to create unhealthy relationships with the opposite sex or engage with bad peer groups. Poor parenting is another factor backing teenage pregnancies as parents failed to adapt a practical way of closely supervising their children. Hence, giving room to unwanted pregnancies and young teenagers had room to hook-up with negative peer groups.

Gender-based violence and marital challenges

The imposition of tight laws and the ban on social gatherings forced people to remain at home. However, for some remaining at home turned into imprisonment especially when they have to endure hours and weeks of crossing paths with their spouses who are prone to violence and intimidation. Some misunderstandings resulted from the inability to provide for the family as businesses were not well off. For some families, peace was readily guaranteed. But for others, a quarrel never ceased as each one tried to defend themselves from the inability to serve the family before the outbreak.

“After the outbreak, we were forbidden to go to the market. This forced me to remain with no job but taking care of my family. But the biggest challenge then was that my husband could not provide for the family efficiently. Well, some other needs, he would